Patent Applications published on Apr 20, 2006

Explore the 5,128 U.S. Patent Applications published on the 16th week of 2006, including 3,146 applications that subsequently received a Patent Grant.

Featured patent applications from Apr 20, 2006

Published: 2006-04-20 Assignee: Tyco Healthcare Group LP.
US20060085033A1
Human necessities
Application 20060085033, fig. 01

Surgical apparatus and structure for applying sprayable wound treatment material

According to an aspect of the present disclosure, an apparatus for forming an anastomosis between adjacent sections of tissue is provided. The apparatus includes a body portion; an actuation assembly operatively supported at a proximal end of the body portion; an anvil assembly movably mounted at the distal end of the body portion for movement toward and away from the body portion; an approximation assembly extending between the body portion and the anvil assembly for moving the anvil toward and away from the tubular body portion; a dispersion assembly operatively associated with the approximation assembly, the dispersion assembly including at least one angled surface defining at least one channel interposed between the anvil assembly and the body portion and being configured to dispense a fluid therefrom; and at least one conduit for conducting wound treatment material to the dispersion assembly.

Published: 2006-04-20 Assignee: Tyco Healthcare Group LP.
US20060081678A1
Human necessities
Application 20060081678, fig. 01

Surgical fastener applying apparatus

An improved surgical fastener applying apparatus includes a cartridge half-section and an anvil half-section with the cartridge and anvil half-sections being relatively movable from an unclamped position to a fully clamped position. The apparatus includes a replaceable staple cartridge assembly having a plurality of surgical staples and a pivotably mounted safety lock-out. The safety lock-out is pivotable between an initial position in which a relative movement of the cartridge and anvil half-sections to the fully clamped position is permitted and a blocking position in which a relative movement of the cartridge and anvil half-sections to return them to their fully clamped position after the plurality of staples have been at least partially fired is prevented. The apparatus further includes a pivotably mounted firing lever for moving a pair of camming surfaces longitudinally. In addition, each of the presently disclosed cartridge and anvil half-sections of the fastener applying apparatus includes a clamping lever, which clamping levers are configured and adapted to enable the applying apparatus to be opened by either one of the cartridge half-section and the anvil half-section.

Published: 2006-04-20 Assignee: Tyco Healthcare Group LP.
US20060085034A1
Human necessities
Application 20060085034, fig. 01

Support structures and methods of using the same

According to an aspect of the present disclosure, an apparatus for forming an anastomosis between adjacent intestinal sections of tissue is provided. The apparatus includes an anastomosis device having an anvil and a tubular body portion, wherein the anvil is selectively attachable to the tubular body portion by a shaft; and a support structure for deposition between the intestinal sections of tissue. The support structure includes a body defining an aperture therein for receiving the shaft. The body has an outer terminal edge. The support structure includes at least one layer of expandable material disposed at the outer terminal edge of the body.

Published: 2006-04-20 Assignee: Tyco Healthcare Group LP.
US20060085032A1
Human necessities
Application 20060085032, fig. 01

Structure containing wound treatment material

According to an aspect of the present disclosure, an anvil assembly for a circular stapling apparatus, is disclosed. The anvil assembly includes an anvil head configured to support an anvil plate thereon; a shaft extending from the anvil head and configured to selectively engage a connection member of the circular stapling apparatus; an anvil plate operatively connected to the anvil head, the anvil plate defining a plurality of staple forming pockets therein; and a wound treatment material disposed in each staple forming pocket of the anvil plate. The wound treatment material is at least one of an adhesive, a sealant, a hemostat and a medicament.

Published: 2006-04-20 Assignee: Covidien LP.
US20060085030A1
Human necessities
Application 20060085030, fig. 01

Seal element for anastomosis

A seal element for sealing between tissue lumens includes a first material for allowing tissue ingrowth and a second sealant material.

Published: 2006-04-20 Assignee: Tyco Healthcare Group LP.
US20060085031A1
Human necessities
Application 20060085031, fig. 01

Extraluminal sealant applicator and method

An apparatus for applying sealant to a target tissue of a surgical site is provided. The apparatus includes a handle, conduit and an end effector. The handle has means configured and adapted for operating the end effector and dispensing biological sealant to the surgical site via the end effector. The conduit stores and/or carries sealant towards the end effector. The end effector is configured to clamp around a body organ or tissue and apply and confine biological sealant in a substantially uniform manner thereto.

Published: 2006-04-20 Assignee: Medtronic Navigation, Inc..
US20060084867A1
Human necessities
Application 20060084867, fig. 01

Method and apparatus for surgical navigation

A surgical navigation system for tracking a procedure relative to a patient is disclosed. The system can track a portion of the patient, an instrument, both, and both or either relative to image data, a coordinate system, an atlas, a morphed atlas, or combinations thereof. The system can include a minimally or non-invasive dynamic reference frame and/or fiducial marker, sensor tipped instruments, and isolator circuits.

Published: 2006-04-20 Assignee: ETHICON, INC..
US20060084930A1
Human necessities

Reinforced absorbable multilayered fabric for use in tissue repair and regeneration

The present invention is directed to a method of using a multilayered fabric comprising a first absorbable nonwoven fabric and a second absorbable woven or knitted fabric in tissue repair and regeneration.

Published: 2006-04-20 Assignee: APPLE INC..
US20060085757A1
Physics
Application 20060085757, fig. 01

Activating virtual keys of a touch-screen virtual keyboard

A method of operating a touch screen to activate one of a plurality of virtual keys is provided. A touch location is determined based on location data pertaining to touch input on the touch screen, wherein the touch input is intended to activate one of the plurality of virtual keys. Each of the plurality of virtual keys has a set of at least one key location corresponding to it. For each of the virtual keys, a parameter (such as physical distance) is determined for that virtual key that relates the touch location and the set of at least one key location corresponding to that virtual key. The determined parameters are processed to determine one of the virtual keys. For example, the determined one virtual key may be the virtual key with a key location (or more than one key location, on average) being closest to the touch location. A signal is generated indicating activation of the determined one of the virtual keys.

Published: 2006-04-20 Assignee: MASIMO CORPORATION.
US20060084852A1
Human necessities
Application 20060084852, fig. 01

Flex circuit shielded optical sensor

A flex circuit optical sensor has an integrated Faraday shield. A conductive trace layer disposed on a substrate is used to form a conductive grid which shields the face of a photodetector. A conductive ink layer is formed on a substrate side opposite the trace layer. The back and sides of the detector are shielded by flex circuit flaps that have the conductive ink layer but substantially exclude the trace layer so as to fold over and closely adhere to the detector body. The shielded substrate flaps advantageously eliminate a separate detector shield, which is typically fabricated with an etched copper part that must be attached to a flex circuit before mounting the detector.